NEW AIRPORT FOR AUCKLAND

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 172, 17 April 1937, Page 2 (Supplement)

NEW AIRPORT FOR AUCKLAND

City Council Proposal Dominion Special Service, Auckland, April 15. “An arresting example of the need for metropolitan co-operation is to be found in the proposal for the establishment at Po’nt England of an airport for the whole of Auckland,” said the mayor. Mr. Ernest Davis, addressing a conference of local body representatives called to consider matters of interest to the city as well as those outside its boundaries. Mr. Davis said that with the substantial development proceeding at Mangere it seemed that airport requirements for some time to come would be met, but in a few years the necessity would arise for utilising an airport at Point England. The city council regarded this a s of such vital importance to the future of Auckland as a whole that it felt that a broad outlook must be taken and that block of land at Point England which had been approved by aviation exports and the Government should for obvious reasons be secured at once. He believed the Government was favourable to the idea of developing the airport providing local authorities acquired the land. The cost of acquiring the site was est’mated at £55,650, and the cost of development in the initial stages £57.770. “Will the local authorities in the metropolitan area stand in behind the citv council in taking a proportionate share in the cost of buying the land?" asked the inayor, whose proposals wiil be considered by local bodies.